Raiders depth chart vs. Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS -- Here is how the Raiders' depth chart looks entering their exhibition opener against the host Minnesota Vikings at 5 p.m. Friday:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Matt Schaub, Derek Carr, Matt McGloin, Trent Edwards. Comment: The job belongs to Schaub, who will play sparingly. Carr and McGloin will get most of the work, while Edwards is on hand in case of injury.

Wide receiver 2: Rod Streater, Greg Little, Juron Criner, Greg Jenkins, Seth Roberts. Comment: Streater is the Raiders' most reliable receiver. Little was prone to drops in Cleveland and needs to hold on in game situations. Keep an eye on Roberts, who has caught everything thrown his way.

Tight end: David Ausberry, Mychal Rivera, Brian Leonhardt, Nick Kasa. Comment: With Ausberry out because of knee surgery and Rivera secure as a receiver, Leonhardt and Kasa battle it out while the Raiders keep an eye on the waiver wire.

Running back: Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden, Latavius Murray, Jeremy Stewart, Kory Sheets, George Atkinson III. Comment: Don't expect a lot of Jones-Drew or McFadden until Sept. 7. Murray is an intriguing big back who will get a chance to shine. Stewart's value is on special teams. Sheets probably doesn't stick unless someone gets hurt, while Atkinson is probably hoping for a spot on the practice squad.

Left tackle: Donald Penn, Jack Cornell, Erle Ladson. Comment: Penn is in good shape and eager to prove Tampa Bay was wrong in releasing him. Cornell could stick, but Penn's backup is more likely to be moved from another position in the line.

Left guard: Khalif Barnes, Gabe Jackson, Lamar Mady. Comment: Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Barnes has found a "fountain of youth." He'll need it to hold off Jackson, a third-round draft pick and power blocker. Mady won't play because of injured ankle.

Center: Stefen Wisniewski, Kevin Boothe, Jarrod Shaw. Comment: Wisniewski is the glue that holds the line together, and Boothe provides a quality backup that has been missing in past seasons.

Right guard: Austin Howard, Tony Bergstrom, Emmett Cleary. Comment: Howard bears watching in his first game action at guard after playing tackle with the New York Jets. Bergstrom has also begun working at center in hopes of being more versatile and having a better shot at the 53-man roster.

Right tackle: Menelik Watson, Matt McCants, Dan Kistler. Comment: Watson hasn't missed a rep throughout the offseason and training camp after an injury-plagued rookie year and is improving rapidly. McCants saw action last year, but the backup, like with tackle, probably comes from another position.

DEFENSE

Right end: LaMarr Woodley, Shelby Harris, Ryan Robinson. Comment: Woodley is enjoying lining up with a hand on the ground, rushing the passer and not having to drop back in coverage. Harris has shaken off the rust quickly after not playing his senior year in college. Robinson faces an uphill climb to stick on the 53-man roster again.

Defensive tackle: Antonio Smith, Stacy McGee, Ricky Lumpkin. Comment: Smith is hoping for fewer double teams in shift from a 3-4 end. McGee, recovered from a broken thumb, was an impressive rookie a year ago.

Nose tackle: Pat Sims, Justin Ellis, Torell Troup. Comment: Sims was dominant at times a year ago, invisible at others. Ellis shows power and good agility at 347 pounds and could push to start before the season is over.

Left end: Justin Tuck, C.J. Wilson, Jack Crawford. Comment: Tuck is convinced he has another season of double-digit sacks. He will move inside in the nickel. Wilson is a big body who will help on run downs. Crawford is on the bubble.

Weak side linebacker: Sio Moore, Miles Burris, Carlos Fields. Spencer Hadley. Comment: Moore might or might not play against Minnesota, enabling Burris a chance to start in one of the most hotly contested battles of training camp.

Middle linebacker: Nick Roach, Kaluka Maiava, Bojay Filmoeautu. Comment: Roach never came off the field last year and is one of the more underrated players on the defense. Maiava has been out because of a hamstring injury since the early days of training camp.

Strong side linebacker: Khalil Mack, Kaelin Burnett, Justin Cole. Comment: Players and coaches alike can hardly wait to see what Mack can do in a game situation. Burnett is primarily a core special teams player.

Right cornerback: Tarell Brown, Chimdi Chekwa, Neiko Thorpe, Keith McGill, Chance Casey. Comment: Brown has looked the part of top cover corner since he arrived via free agency from the 49ers. Chekwa has improved steadily enough to be a factor in some defensive packages. Thorpe and McGill have had injury issues.

Left cornerback: Carlos Rogers, TJ Carrie, Taiwan Jones, Jansen Watson. Comment: Rogers was brought aboard to be a slot corner, and he'll fill that role, but also play outside as a starter with DJ Hayden on PUP. Carrie has done something almost every day to catch the attention of the coaching staff. Jones role is as a special teams gunner.

Free safety: Charles Woodson, Brandian Ross, Jeremy Deering. Comment: Woodson has had an excellent training camp, taking all his first-team reps and intercepting at least three passes. Ross has gotten his hands on a few balls as well after struggling as a strong side starter last season.

Strong safety: Tyvon Branch, Jonathan Dowling, Larry Asante. Comment: Branch missed almost all of last season with a broken ankle but has returned and is expected to be a top-flight strong safety. Dowling has the ability to break on balls in flight.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter: Marquette King, Michael Palardy. Comment: King's leg strength is unquestioned and he has worked diligently on acquiring some touch and finesse to place more balls inside the 20.

Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski, Kevin Goessling. Comment: Janikowski has had a solid camp after missing 10 field-goal attempts a year ago. Goessling was added to the roster Thursday.

Holder: Marquette King. Comment: Notable that the Raiders didn't put any one else on the depth chart after King struggled to gain the trust of Janikowski after replacing Shane Lechler.

Long-snapper: Jon Condo, Stefen Wisniewski, Brian Leonhardt. Comment: Condo's value is never more evident than when Wisniewski and Leonhardt take the occasional practice rep as snapper.

Kickoff returner: Taiwan Jones, Darren McFadden, Latavius Murray, George Atkinson III, Kory Sheets. Comment: Jones' speed is incredible, but the coaching staff still isn't sure about his ball security. Murray is intriguing because he brings a size-power element along with his speed.